Three Years After the Events of Rise of the Guardians
The fairies buzzed as they flew around, they carried some cookies and others even carried coffee mugs. The elves were goofing off, pushing each other and walking under the boots of Santa Claus also known as North.
“Urgh,” he let out, lifting his mug and plate of cookies as he looked down. His brows furrowed and lips formed a frown. “Why are you always under boots?”
The whoosh of a fast flying being passed North making him look up and crack a smile. “Tooth!” He exclaimed, turning around to greet his friend. He held a big smile on his lips.
The Tooth Fairy skid to a stop in the air. She smiled—though she always is—and turned around in her flight. “Hi!” She let out, giggling as she flew closer. “Oh, I’m so glad we all agreed to this.”
She clasped her hands together, swaying from side to side as her wings flapped furiously. North let out a laugh, leaning back slightly. “I’m glad too. Although, Bunny didn’t seem so excited.” He said, leaning in close as if telling a secret.
“Hey,” the voice of Bunny said as he jumped up from the hole in the ground. The ground closed in on itself and the rabbit-sized-kangaroo gave the big man a look. “Some of us have work to do.”
North let out a big laugh, spreading his arms to the side, not being careful with the items he held. “Bunnymud!”
“No, no, no!” Bunny yelled, backing up as the big man dived in for a hug.
The laughter of another took Tooth’s attention from the pair. Her smile widened as she let her hands fall to her sides. Jack and Sandy both came in, flying next to each other in a race.
“Oh!” Tooth let out, flying up after she let out a chuckle. Both Sandy and Jack flew past her before crashing into the tables. The elves stumbled from their positions and one drops the cookie from his mouth.
“Hah-hah! Whoo!” Jack let out as he flew up. Sandy dusted himself with a smile, floating to the ground after helping an elf up. He smiled at Jack as he cheered. “That’s what I’m talking about! Who won?” He looked around then back down at Sandy.
Sandy shrugged, still smiling as he had plenty fun and didn’t mind who lost or won. “Ah, Sandy! Jack! So glad you could join us.” North said, hugging Bunny and squeezing him. The bunny grunted and groaned in annoyance.
Jack let out a chuckle at that, shaking his head as he leaned to his staff. “Put me down!” Bunny yelled, moving his dangling legs. North laughed and placed him down.
An elf grabbed the plate of cookies North dropped and ran off with them, his colorful tongue out. Another grabbed the coffee mug and drank it. His eyes dialing.
Jack lifted his head, looking around the room. “Love what you’ve done with the place, North.” He said, spinning his staff in his hand. When the staff hit the ground ice would jolt off from it. It hit a few elves who were chewing the ice sculptures.
Tooth agreed, flying up and touching the decorative pieces. “Yeah, they look so nice. My fairies love them!” She said as a few fairies swoon over a mini sculpture of Jack Frost.
Jack chuckled, shaking his head. His eyes landed on the moon and he furrowed his brows. “Uh…is the moon…?” He trialed off, narrowing his eyes as the moon shifted closer to the opening at the ceiling.
“Alright!” North clapped his hands making a few fairies snap out of their trance and others flinch and drop their items. “Let’s get this party started!” He laughed, moving to the huge table.
Jack snapped out of his thoughts and smiled, turning back to the others. The festivities went on. North thought it would be a good idea for all of them to celebrate once a year. To re-group and share stories of their time. And it would be a good change in pace.
As time went on, Jack wasn’t the only one who noticed the moon shifting closer. Sandy had noticed it too. He looked around the grand table with food for all. All of them were talking among themselves, eating, enjoying themselves. And yet, Sandy couldn’t help but think something was off.
He frowned, looking back up at the ceiling. The moonlight barely shined in. A few elves and fairies noticed it too. It was…as if Manny was trying to give them time to relax before giving them work.
Sandy huffed, puffing his cheeks before grabbing a cup of juice—or whatever he drank—and took a gulp.
The night went on until it couldn’t anymore. North turned his head and looked up. The moonlight was a little too evident for no one to notice. “Man in Moon?” He raised a brow, turning to look back at the others.
“What does he want now?” Bunny groaned making Tooth nudge him. He furrowed his brows as he looked at her.
The moon finally centered and started glowing. North gasped, jumping off the chair. “Manny! Old friend.” North greeted, spreading his arms before placing his hands to his hips. “Wanna join in the festivities?”
“I don’t think he can do that, North.” Bunny said sarcastically, a paw to his cheek as he reached for his drink.
The moon didn’t speak—he never did. Then, at the top—the balcony—where a square-diamond-rhombus with each point the image of the Guardians and at the center Jack’s image started to light up.
“What?” Bunny asked, lifting his head up with wide eyes.
“Oh?” North said, blinking at the balcony. Tooth flew up, hovering over the design. Jack and Sandy gave each other looks before flying up. North started to make his way up as well.
“Wait—but-but, we don’t have room for more!” Bunny said, going after them. He didn’t stop complaining until they all reached the top.
The center—where the ‘G’ used to be, now replaced with Jack’s figure—started to glow. Outline in a soft blue. The circle parted to reveal a glowing gem attacked to a rock. Jack gasped softly, his eyes widening, “Whoa.”
“Uh, guys,” Tooth called, looking to them as she flew side to side. A few fairies behind her. “Do you know what this means?” She questioned, just like she did three years ago.
Jack didn’t let his eyes off the gem. Was this how he was chosen? How they were all chosen? How did the first ever Guardian know he was chosen? Was it North?
“He’s choosing a new guardian.” North let out with wide eyes full of wonder.
“Another guardian won’t fit there!” Bunny argued, pointing at the design as he looked at North.
Said man started laughing, a hand to his belly. “Yes! Remodeling! Love it!” He let out, smiling widely down at the gem.
“Guys, shush!” Tooth said, flying in between them with a finger to her lips. “Look!”
“Urgh!” Bunny groaned, turning to the side as he crossed his fingers. “Please not the groundhog.”
“Ooh, maybe this time it’ll be the Leprechaun?” Tooth said, looking down at Sandy who shrugged. He thought for a moment before he beamed and a star shown on top of his head.
“Ooh, the Wish Spirit. Good one!” She beamed, a bright smile on her lips.
Dust and shimmer started to form above the blue gem. They all stared as the image started to form—all different expressions. A woman, holding a bow and ready to shoot. Quiver to her hip, arrows in forms of spade. Big wings attached to her back.
“Cupid.” North said after a beat. “Huh?” He scratched his beard, looking to the side in a thoughtful expression.
“Oooh! I love her wings!” Tooth said, flying closer to the image.
Sandy smiled, clapping his hands silently.
“Whoa,” Jack let out, he blinked before letting out a chuckle. His smile widening.
“Uh…” Bunny looked confused, looking down at his paws as he counted. “Wait…” he looked back up at the image, narrowing his eyes at the tall woman. “Which one?”
———————————————————————
“Urgh!” The woman let out, throwing her bow to the ground before sitting on a rock. A leg folded and the other dangling. She placed her elbow on her thigh, palm to her cheek.
“Oh, come on,” another winged person called, flying after her. “You’ll get chosen next time.” He tried to cheer her up. His wings flapped as he landed.
“Look, [n/n], I know it’s not easy but it took me 467 years to get chosen.” The woman winced, her shoulder tensing. The man deadpanned but, he let a smile grace his features once he heard her laughter.
She turned her head around, “Four…hundred…sixty-seven?”
“Yeah…” he chuckled nervously, looking to the side as he rubbed his neck. “But it was worth it!” He flapped his wings, landing in front of her. The girl turned her head to him with a slight smile.
“I was chosen and look!” He gestured to himself. He wore green clothing, his arrows a spade-shaped but green. What he wore mostly were different shades of green and silver. A shown to his status—brotherly love.
The woman smiled softly at him. She was about to speak, but a rustle made her perk up. She turned her head around and was about to call out when—Lucius—held her back by her arm and pulled her to a flight.
The woman widened her eyes and looked at him. Like his love status, he held a protective glint in his eyes. One only an older brother would have for their younger sister.
She looked back down and she gasped. She reached out—her bow left on the ground.
“Come on,” he pulled her up, making her wings react and start flapping. “We have to head back to Cupids Palace.”
He started flying up to the clouds, but the girl stopped. She huffed, narrows her eyes as she watched him fly. She shook her head and flew back, diving head first before spinning in the air.
She landed on the ground gracefully. She smiled, dusting her skirt. It had small spikes by the waistband. It moved as she turned around, looking for her bow. It wasn’t where she had left it, making her frown.
A Cupid only ever got one in their lifetime.
The woman grumbled, furrowing her brows in worry. From the bushes, Jack smirked, twirling the bow in his finger. “Lost something?”
The woman perked up, turning around to glance at the bushes. She narrows her eyes as they trialed around the greenery. A deer made of ice and frost walked out. [E/c] eyes widened at the sight. Her lips tugging into a smile.
She let out a chuckle, reaching her hand out as the deer walked closer. Her eyes were filled with amazement as she let out a soft gasp. The deer pressed its muzzle to her palm.
She brought her other hand to the underside of the deer’s muzzle. She cooed at it, bottom eyelid rising.
Jack chuckled at the interaction. She perked up again and looked around until her eyes fell on his deep blue ones. He smirked at her, titling his head. He was sitting with his back to the tree on a branch. His knee up with an arm draped over it, staff in hand. His other leg dangling off the branch.
“You know…” he said, his eyes trialing up and down at her. “You’re a little tacky.”
The girl jerked her head back with a scoff, her lips tugging into an amused smile. He rose a brow, lifting his free hand up and twirling the bow in his hand.
Her eyes widened as she pressed her lips together. She narrowed her eyes, irises darting to his. “What? You dropped it.” He said mindlessly, shrugging as his irises looked up.
She opens her mouth to say something but he beat her to it, “Well, more like tossed it.” He chuckled, looking down at her with a charming smile. He flew up, landing not far from her as he looked around the open area in the forest.
“I’m Jack Frost, by the way.” He said casually, swinging his staff to his shoulder and halting in his steps. He looked at her with a smirk. “Guardian of Fun.”
She stared at him, lips parted and eyes slightly wide. He nodded at her, “You must be Cupid? At least one of them.”
“Jack…” she let out, a smile tugging at her lips as she chuckled in disbelief. “Frost?” Her bottom eyelids rose to the point she closed her eyes. Turning her face to the deer who nuzzled close to her.
He rose a brow, titling his head as his smile faltered. She turned to look at him, her wings fluttering in excitement. She opened her mouth to speak, “…[Name]…” she let out finally. She smiled softly at him. “I’m [Name].”
“[Name]?” Jack said thoughtfully, as if he had heard that name before. He hummed, narrowing his eyes. He shook his head and smirked at her. “Pleasure to meet you, [Name].”
“Pleasures all mine.” [Name] said, nodding her head at him slowly. Her irises caught the deer’s empty ones. “Is this yours?” She asked, caressing the deer’s muzzle.
Jack chuckled, throwing the bow at her which made her turn quickly and grab it, “And this is yours.”
She smiled as she looked back at him. “What’s a Guardian doing here?”
Jack chuckled nervously, looking to the ground. He cleared his throat, his fist to his lips, before looking back at her. “The Moon has chosen you to be a Guardian.”
